Centripetal electric switch.



T. J. DOWNER.

GENTRIPETAL ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.14, 1910.

Patented July- 16,1912.

2 SHEETSSHEET l T. J. DOWNER. GENTRIPETAL ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 14, 1910.

1,032,471 I Patented July 16, 1912.,

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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Specification of Letters Patent. I Patented July 16-, 1912.

Application filed January 14, 110. Serial No. 538,047.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TAYLOR J. DoWNnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at 001- orado Springs, in the county of El Paso and State .of Colorado, have invented. certain new and useful Improvements in Centripetal Electric Switches; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invent-ion relatesto a circuit closer and has for its object to provide certain new and useful improvements over U. S. Patent granted to me on June l5, 1909, #925,312; and this invention has for its object to provide a device wherein an electric circuit is I automatically broken by centrifugal force;

and my invention is particularly adapted to be used on vehicles such as .cars, automobiles or the like and on elevators, or in *fact on any device which has a rotating part whenever it is desired to close an electric circuit for any purpose; and my invention is so constructed and arranged that it can be quickly and easily attached to the rotating part of the vehicle or the like.

A further object of this inventionlis to provide a centripetal circuit closer which is simple in construction, easy and cheap to manufacture, strong, durable and etficient, comprising no frail, delicate or uncertain mechanism.- I

In the accompanying drawings and in the following specification I have shown and described this invention as applied to a passenger coach wherein by the closing of the electric circuit the steps of the coach and the adjacent ground or platform in proximity to the steps is illuminated by means of electric lights Whenever the coach comes to a stop. It is evident that theinve'ntion can also be applied to elevators for lighting the doorway of the elevator or coach and particularly the portion of the elevator adjacent the bot-tom of the door.

When utilizing this device on vehicles or the like certain visible or audible signals are arranged in the circuit in such manner that they will be operated when the force of gravity overcomes the centrifugal force, thus closing an electric circuit and sounding the audible signal or lightingthe visible slgnal such as a lamp. The functions of sald-slgnals'a-re many and varied; as for instance when applying the device to a passenger coach, one or more visible signals can be arranged in close proximity to the steps of the coach, and a visible signal can'be arranged on the back of the coach or vehicle in such manner that when the coach .or vehicle wheels slow down or come to a stop the visible signals in close proximityto the steps will illuminate the same and also the adjacent ground or latform in order to enable passengers to alight from and board the coach or vehicle at night with greater safety and more despatch; while the visible signal in the rear of the coach or vehicle will warn the next following coach or other vehicles indicating instantly that the preceding coach .or vehicle is either running very slow or has come to a stop. It is of course evident that an audible signal can be employed also in this capacity, while the same may be said motor vehicles such as automobiles or the 1 e.

This invention is also adapted to be used in connection to machinery of various kinds and also on elevators, and when attached to or associated with a rotating part thereof, a visible or audible signal can be given indicating stoppage of any part or parts of the machinery or .to indicate any slow down in the same. It is also apparent that this device is applicable for other purposes.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the novel construction of the parts of the circuit closer and also in the novel construction for rotating the same as will be first fully described and afterward pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view partly in vertical section illustrating the mechanism of .the centripetal switch. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the.

rotating member with one side plate removed. Fig. 3' is a diagrammatic view of the passenger coach illustrating my invention applied thereto, and Fig; 4 is a fragmentary view illustrating the preferred position of the centripetal switch in relation to the wheel of the passenger coach.

Like numerals of reference indicate the same parts throughout the several figures in which- 1 indicates the two frame'pieces Within which the centripetal switch 2 is mounted.

Said centri etal switch 2 comprises a revoluble mem er 3 and a shaft 4, said shaft 4; being journaled in the ends of the frame pieces 1 as clearly shown in,Fig. 1. The revoluble member 3 comprises two arts or plates 5 and 6, said parts or plates ein of non-conducting material such as wood ber or the like. As will appear from Fig. 1 the plate or member 5 is centrally recessed at 7, while the plate'or member 6 is beveled both on its inner and outer face and is secured by the plate or member 5 by means of screws 8 or by any other suitable fastening means. Within the annular recess 7 of the 5 part 5 and against the wall 9 of said chamer I dispose a metallic band 10, said band being of a good electrical conducting material, and depending from said band 10 are a series of radially disposed tubes or receptacles 11, said tubes or receptacles 11 bein for the purpose of holding the freely slida le metallic brushes or electrical contact pieces 12 as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Rigidly connected to the outer face of the plate or member 6 is a metallic hub ,or slip ring 13, said hub or said slip-ring member being1 provided with an annular flange 14 whic by means of screws 15 is connected to the part or plate 6 so as to rotate therewith. Connecting the hub or slip ring 13 electrically with the annular band 10 within the chamber 7 is a metallic strip or wire 16 in such manner that an electrical connection is effected between the annular band 10, tubes or receptacles 11, freely movable brushes 12 and the hub or slip ring 13.

As will appear from Fig. 1 the hub or slip ring 13 is insulated by means of \suitable insulating material 17 from the shaft 4; and as will appear from Figs. 1 and 2 an annular contact piece 18 is arranged on the shaft 4 within the chamber 7 and directly in the path of the slidable brushes12, said contact piece 18 being electrically connected with the shaft 4:. Extending from one of the frame pieces 1 is a brush 19, said brush 19 being insulated from the arm 1 by means of insulating material 20. As will appear from the drawings the periphery of the rotating part 2 is provided with a'tire 21 of rubber, leather, aluminum or any other suitable friction material in such manner that the rotating part 2 is driven b friction from a rotating art, such as a w eel, axle or the like of t e coach, vehicle or other machine; and as will appear from Fig. 3 I have illustrated this switch havin the rotating part 2 in engagement with t e tread of a car wheel 22, although as is obvious the rotating part can be driven by any other rotating element of a coach, vehicle or other machine; and in Fig. 2 I have illustrated an electric circuit wherein are disposed a series of electric lamps 23 adjacent to the steps 24 of the coach. In the electric circuit is a battery 25 or other source of current.

Having thus fully described the several parts of my invention its operation is as follows: The rim or tire 21 of ,the rotating part '2 being in contact with the rotating element the part 2 is rotated and as. said part is keyed or. otherwise secured to the shaft 4;, said shaft is also rotated. Whenever the speed of the rotating part 2 overcomes the force of gravity acting u on the slidable brushes 12, said brushes iiy centrifugal force are carried away from the central annular contact'piece 18 within the recess 7. Whenever the speed of the rotating part 2 lessens or whenever the rotating part 2 comes to a stop the force of gravity acting on the slidable brushes 12 causes some of them to drop into contact with the central annular contact piece 18 as shown in Fig. 2, thus closing an electric circuit in the following mamierz The brush 19 being alwa s in contact with the hub or sli ring 13 o the rotating part 2 and as said ub or slip ring 13 is electrically connected with the central rotating contact piece 18 on the shaft 4 by means of the annular metallic band 10, tubes or receptacles 11 and slidable brushes 16, and as the shaft 4: carrying the central annular contact piece 18 is electrically connected with one of the frame pieces 11 the electric circuit is closed as soon as one or more of the movable brushes 12 comes into contact with the central rotating contact piece 18. As soon, however, as the said movable contact pieces 12 are carried out of contact with the central annular contact piece 18 by centrifugal'force the electric circuit is broken at that point. It will therefore be seen that if one or more visible or audible signals are placed in the electric circuit the same will be operated as soon as the force of gravity acting on the movable brushes 12 overcomes the centrifugal force and carries one or more of said brushes into contact with the central annular contact piece 18, and as soon as centrifugal force overcomes the force of gravi I the movable brushes 12 are carried out 0 contact with the central annular contact piece 18 thus breaking the circuit and cutting out the lamps or audible signals.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

A circuit closer compgising a revoluble shaft, a revoluble mem r carried by said shaft, and provided with a series of radial tubular members arranged in an annular chamber formed in said revoluble member, a conducting band arranged in said chamber interme iate its annular wall and said tubular members, a series of freely movable brushes of plug-like outline arranged within said tubular members for centrifugal action, an annular contact member encompassing said shaft within said revoluble member and adapted to be engaged by said plug-like brushes, 9. slip-ring member carried by said revoluble member and closely receiving said shaft, a conducting connection between said conducting band and said slip-ring member, an insulating member intermediate of said 10 slip-ring member and said shaft, and an electric circuit including an insulated contact member engaging said slip-ring member. a

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses.

TAYLOR JAMES DQWNER.

Witnesses:

SUSIE B. GILLAsrY, WILLARD DONALDSON. 

